MANILA, Philippines – Former UFC light heavyweight champion “Suga” Rashad Evans believes there is a place in the UFC for a new weight class, which will bridge the light heavyweight (205-pounds) and middleweight (185-pounds) divisions.

“I’d be a proponent of a 195-pound division,” Evans said during a conference call for UFC 156, as quoted by MMA Mania. “It’s a big drop between 205 and 185.” 

“There are a lot of guys like me. I’m not a big 205-pounder, but 185 might be too big of a cut for me,” he said. “I think a 195-pound weight class would be a great idea.”

Evans said a move to middleweight will mean a “lifestyle change” for him. “The whole diet, year-round, would have to change,” he said.

“My body goes to like 235 (pounds) when I’m not consistently training. I’d have to change everything about my diet on a daily basis,” Evans added.

“Suga” also pointed out that if he moves to middleweight, he will have to re-establish himself as a contender all over again, when he is already among the top fighters at light-heavyweight.

“I am good at 205, but who’s to know how good I’d be at 185?” he asked. “There’s a lot of variables that would come into play. First things first, I’d have to do a test cut and see how I feel there.”

Evans may be motivated to drop to middleweight if he can get a shot against champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva.

“It would be a tremendous honor to have held the belt in two different divisions and also to beat Anderson Silva,” he said.

“Fighting against Anderson Silva is something for me, to say I went against the best ever. Fighting against that guy and beating that guy, because I do believe I can defeat Anderson Silva,” Evans added.